Convertible game board and table

ABSTRACT

A foldable portable game board including a platform for playing board and card games outdoors where adverse conditions might displace the location of game elements and subsequently interrupt the game. One surface of the platform supports a plurality of card engaging members such as elastic bands. The bands may be placed in any orientation on the playing surface of the platform to accommodate a number of cards at selected locations. Another surface of the platform may be magnetized to prevent the dislocation of game elements from adverse conditions that would interrupt the game. The platform may also be fitted with attachable legs, allowing conversion of the game board to a table.

RELATED DOCUMENTS

This nonprovisional application claims priority to and incorporatesherein by reference the contents of Provisional Application No.60/671,196 filed Apr. 14, 2005, to the extent allowed by law.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

The present invention relates to a convertible portable planar gameboard for playing various games, where the board can be configured intoa table. Game boards require ideal environmental conditions to ensurethat a game can be played. Physical location of the game elements on thegame board are critical and can be easily disturbed by changes in theenvironment, such as wind gusts or when traveling under unsteadyconditions. These limitations prevent people from using games in anoutdoor environment. Game boards are also usually only used for theirone intended purpose and have not been adapted to serve additionalpurposes.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

In one embodiment, a convertible game board and table is provided thatincludes a platform having a generally planar horizontal upper surface.The platform includes first and second side portions and a centerportion. The center portion may be slightly larger than the first andsecond side portions, and the first and second side portions may befolded to cover at least a portion of the center portion.

The game board platform also includes a plurality of removable andmovable elastic bands overlying and covering at least a portion of theupper surface for holding one or many cards or other game elements inposition on the platform. The bands may be releasably or permanentlyattached to the upper surface of the platform at a variety of locationsand orientations.

The board may also include a magnetized lower surface. The lower surfacemay be configured to permit the playing of board games that do not useplaying cards as the playing implement. Such games may include, but arenot limited to, chess, checkers and backgammon. The upper surface andthe lower surface of the platform may also include a plurality ofsockets for receiving attachable legs, whereby the platform may beconverted to a table.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

FIG. 1 is a plan view of the upper surface of the game board of thepresent invention in its open operative position, illustrating socketsadapted to receive detachable legs to support the game board in anelevated horizontal position;

FIG. 2 is a plan view of the game board of FIG. 1, showing the bottomsurface of the game board, which is configured to play a board game thatrequires a checkerboard-type surface, illustrating sockets for receivingattachable legs.

FIG. 3 is a perspective view of a carry bag for holding the game board,game pieces, cards, and the attachable legs.

FIG. 4 is an elevation view of the elastic bands for releasably holdingone or more cards in place on the platform.

FIG. 5 is a perspective view of one of the attachable legs.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION

The present invention, as seen in FIGS. 1 and 2, provides a gameplatform 10 having a planar surface. The platform 10 defines an uppersurface 12 and a lower surface 14, whereby the platform 10 can be foldedfor storage or transporting, and opened to provide an upper relativelyflat planar surface on which any number of games with lightweight gameelements may be played. The platform 10 is preferably lightweight andmay be made of plywood, plastic, composite board or other suitablematerial. The surfaces 12, 14 of the platform 10 may be coated with awaterproof material.

To prevent lightweight game elements such as playing cards from blowingaway under adverse conditions, a plurality of elastic bands 16 areprovided which can be releasably secured to substantially any locationon the upper surface. For example, the elastic bands 16 may be securedat any location and at any desired angular orientation relative to theedges of the upper surface to accommodate configuration and set-up forspecific card or other games. The bands 16 may be secured to the uppersurface using methods known to one of ordinary skill in the art such ashook and loop fasteners, adhesives, rivets or other similar devices andmethods.

In an illustrative embodiment, referring to FIGS. 1 and 2, loop portionsof Velcro™ type hook-and-loop strips 18 are respectively coupled to theupper surface 12 of platform 10, and to selected portions of the bottomsurface 14 of the platform. Hook elements 20 (FIG. 4) are suitablyattached to the underside of elastic bands 16 to permit the releasablesecuring of the elastic bands to the upper or lower surfaces 12, 14. TheVelcro™ type strips 18 may be secured to the upper surface 12 of theplatform 10, and to selected portions 20 (FIG. 4) of the bottom surfaceof the elastic bands 16 using an adhesive. In another illustrativeembodiment, the elastic bands 16 may be secured directly to the platform10 using an adhesive or a rivet, using techniques known in the industry.

As best seen in FIGS. 1 and 4, the bands 16 may be elongated strips ofan elastic material that extend along the upper surface 12 or lowersurface 14 in various orientations. The bands 16, in one embodiment, mayhave a flat bottom surface. The bands 16 are secured to the platform 10in a manner that permits playing cards or other game implements to beslid under a band and held in position as best seen in FIG. 1. Variouscard games can be played using the platform 10, such as, but not limitedto, poker, bridge, gin rummy, solitaire, by sliding cards under theelastic bands 16 as shown in FIG. 1.

As best seen in FIGS. 1 and 2, the platform 10 may be hinged or scoredfor folding. For example, the left portion 22 and right portion 24 ofthe platform 10 may be folded over at least a portion of the centerportion 26. The platform 10 may be foldable so that the left and rightside portions 22, 24 may be moved from a folded position to a partiallyor fully open locked position. For example, both the left and right sideportions 22, 24 may be folded open and locked into position such thatthe side portions 22, 24 are substantially coplanar with the centerportion 26. The board space needed or desired by the players willdetermine whether one or both of the side portions 22, 24 are foldedopen.

The side portions 22, 24 are adapted to be locked in place relative tocenter portion 26 of platform 10 when in the fully opened position asillustrated in FIGS. 1 and 2, by suitable locking mechanisms as areknown to those of ordinary skill in the art. By way of example, asliding latch (not shown) on the platform center portion 26 would engagea bracket (not shown) on a side portion 22 or 24 to hold the sideportions open or parallel to the surface 12 of center portion 26. When auser desires to fold side portions 22, 24 over, or relative to, centerportion 26, the sliding latch is removed from its corresponding bracketon side portion 22 or 24, and the side portions are pivoted to theirdesired position.

The platform 10 may also be reversible, permitting the lower surface 14of the platform to be used to play board games that do not requireplaying cards. The lower surface 14 of the platform 10 may also containa printed pattern 28 to accommodate a plurality of game playing fields.For example, as best seen in FIG. 2, the lower surface 14 of theplatform 10 may contain a checkered pattern 28 for playing games such aschess, checkers, or other similar games. Yet another pattern for a boardgame, such as Backgammon or Monopoly™, may be printed around thecheckered pattern. The lower surface may be magnetized to a firstpolarity, and may be used with magnetized game elements 30 that aremagnetized to an opposite polarity, such as but not limited to,implements for playing checkers, chess, and backgammon, wherein amagnetic force is used to hold the magnetized game elements 30 inposition on the platform 10.

The lower surface 14 of platform 10 may be magnetized using techniquesknown in the art. For example, a magnetic material may be applied as acoating to the lower surface using known techniques, or a layer ofmagnetic material, such as for example a metal or a metal-plasticcomposite, may cover or form at least a portion of the lower surface.The magnetized game elements 30 may support a magnetic material having apolarity opposite that supported by the lower surface. It will beappreciated that known techniques may be used to secure the magneticmaterial to the game playing implements. For example, a magneticmaterial may be secured to the game playing implements using anappropriate adhesive.

The upper surface 12 and the lower surface 14 of the platform 10 alsosupport a plurality of sockets 30, as best seen in FIGS. 1 and 2, eachsocket adapted to receive an attachable and detachable leg 34 (shown inFIG. 5). One attachable leg 34 is received in each socket 32. With thelegs 34 attached to the platform 10, the platform becomes a table thatis supported by the legs at an elevated position. The legs 34 and thesockets 32 may be sized such that friction holds the legs in position inthe socket. Alternatively, the sockets may support a magnetic materialof one polarity configured to attract a magnetic material of oppositepolarity supported by one of the ends of the legs. Known techniques maybe used to apply the magnetic materials to the sockets and the legs, orto releasably lock the legs into the sockets. It will be appreciatedthat the platform may be used without the legs as a tabletop or laptopgame board. Although FIGS. 1 and 2 show the sockets 32 attached to, orformed in, side portions 22, 24, it is also contemplated within thescope of the present invention that sockets 32 may be located adjacentthe four corners of central portion 26, on either or both the uppersurface 12 and/or the lower surface 14 of platform 10.

The platform 10 and the attachable legs 34 may be stored or transportedas a kit in a carry bag 36. As best seen in FIG. 3, the carry bag 36includes an inner compartment 38 designed to receive the folded platform10. The carry bag 36 also includes a plurality of pockets 38 forreceiving and holding the legs 34, and for holding accessory items suchas, but not limited to, picnic utensils, and magnetized game implementsor elements 30 such as poker chips, score pads and playing cards. Thecarry bag also may include a compartment for storing plates, cups,napkins, etc. As best seen in FIG. 3, the carry bag also includes atleast one shoulder strap 40. The carry bag 36 may be constructed inaccordance with known techniques using materials known to one ofordinary skill in the art.

The foregoing description of an illustrated embodiment of the inventionhas been presented for purposes of illustration and description, and isnot intended to be exhaustive or to limit the invention to the preciseform disclosed. The described embodiment was selected to best explainthe principles of the invention and practical application of theseprinciples to enable others skilled in the art to best utilize theinvention in various embodiments and various modifications as are suitedto the particular use contemplated. It is intended that the scope of theinvention not be limited by the specification, but be defined by theclaims set forth below.

1. A convertible game board and table, comprising: a platform having agenerally planar upper surface on which a game may be played, theplatform including a center portion, and first and second side portionspivotally attached to the center portion, the first and second portionspivotally moveable between a first position co-planar with the centerportion to a second position covering at least a portion of the centerportion; at least one elastic band removably and movably overlying atleast one of said portions of said platform, said at least one elasticband adapted to removably secure implements for playing a game to theplatform.
 2. The convertible game board and table of claim 1 wherein thecenter portion of the platform is larger in at least one dimension thanthe corresponding dimension of either the first or second portions. 3.The convertible game board and table of claim 1, wherein each of the atleast one elastic bands are adapted to be releasably attached to theupper surface of the platform at a plurality of locations on theplatform.
 4. The convertible game board and table of claim 1 whereineach of the at least one elastic bands are adapted to be releasablyattached to the upper surface of the platform at a plurality oforientations on the platform.
 5. The convertible game board and table ofclaim 1 wherein the first and second side portions of the platform aremoveable between a folded and an unfolded position.
 6. The convertiblegame board and table of claim 1, wherein said implements are at leastone game-playing card, and the at least one elastic band is adapted toremovably secure the at least one game-playing card between the at leastone elastic band and the platform.
 7. The convertible game board andtable of claim 1, said platform having a generally planar lower surface,said lower surface having a board game playing field applied thereto. 8.The convertible game board and table of claim 7, wherein at least oneadditional elastic band removably and movably overlies said game playingfield, said at least one additional elastic band adapted to secureadditional implements for playing a game to the lower surface of theplatform.
 9. The convertible game board and table of claim 1, includingfirst fastener elements secured to the upper surface of said platform;corresponding releasable second fastener elements secured to the atleast one elastic band; engagement of said first fastener elements withsaid second fastener elements causing said at least one elastic band tobe secured over the upper surface of said platform.
 10. The convertiblegame board and table of claim 9 wherein said first and second fastenerelements are hook and loop type fastener elements.
 11. The convertiblegame board and table of claim 9, said platform having a lower surface,said lower surface having a board game playing field applied thereto;third fastener elements secured to the lower surface of the platform;corresponding releasable fourth fastener elements secured to anadditional at least one elastic band; engagement of said third fastenerelements with said fourth fastener elements causing said at least oneadditional elastic band to be secured over the lower surface of theplatform.
 12. The convertible game board and table of claim 11 whereinsaid third and fourth fastener elements are hook and loop type fastenerelements.
 13. The convertible game board and table of claim 1 whereinthe platform includes a plurality of sockets, each socket adapted toreleasably receive a leg for supporting the platform in a horizontalelevated position.
 14. The convertible game board and table of claim 13wherein each socket and a corresponding leg are sized such that frictionreleasably holds the leg in position in the socket.
 15. The convertiblegame board and table of claim 13 wherein each socket includes a magneticelement of a first polarity, and each leg includes a magnetic element ofa second polarity, each socket holding a leg inserted in the socketthrough magnetic attraction.
 16. The convertible game board and table ofclaim 13 including means to releasably lock each leg in a correspondingsocket.
 17. The convertible game board of claim 13 wherein the platformalso includes a generally planar lower surface, said sockets applied tothe upper surface and the lower surface of the platform.
 18. A kit forstoring and transporting a convertible game board and table, comprising:a carrying bag having at least one compartment therein; a folded andexpandable convertible table and game board platform removably stored inone of said at least one compartments; the carrying bag including atleast one pocket removably storing a plurality of legs, the legs adaptedto be inserted in sockets on the platform to hold the platform in anelevated horizontal position when the platform and legs are removed fromthe carrying bag.
 19. The kit of claim 18, further including additionalpockets adapted to removably hold accessory items selected from thegroup consisting of game implements and elements, magnetized gameimplements and elements, and picnic utensils.
 20. The kit of claim 18wherein the carrying bag includes at least one strap, the at least onestrap adapted to support the carrying bag on the shoulder of a user. 21.The convertible game board and table of claim 7 wherein the lowersurface is magnetized to a first polarity, said magnetized surfaceadapted to apply a magnetic holding force to game implements magnetizedto a second polarity.